PROPOSITION XII.
Concerning Baptism.
[113]As there is one Lord, and one Faith, so there is one Baptism; which is not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience before God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And this Baptism is a pure and spiritual Thing, to wit, the Baptism of the Spirit and Fire, by which we are buried with him, that being washed and purged from our Sins, we may walk in newness of Life: Of which the Baptism of John was a Figure, which was commanded for a Time, and not to continue for ever. As to the Baptism of Infants, it is a mere human Tradition, for which neither Precept nor Practice is to be found in all the Scripture.
[113] Ephes. 4. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Rom. 6. 4. Gal. 3. 27. Col. 2. 12. John 3. 30. 1 Cor. 1. 17.
§. I.
§. II.
Obj. 1.But if it be said, That it is not the Name, but the Thing they contend for;
Answ.I answer; Let the Name then, as not being scriptural, be laid aside, and we shall see at first Entrance how much Benefit will redound by laying aside this traditional Term, and betaking us to Plainness of Scripture Language. For presently the great Contest about the Number of them will vanish; seeing there is no Term used in Scripture that can be made use of, whether we call them Institutions, Ordinances, Precepts, Commandments, Appointments, or Laws, &c. that would afford Ground for such a Debate; since neither will Papists affirm, that there are only seven, or Protestants only two, of any of these aforementioned.